NEW DELHI -- Hundreds of policemen deserted their posts during the violent Jat agitation, which paralyzed Haryana, and spilled into its neighboring states in February.
Most of those who either deserted their posts or did not follow orders issued by their superior officers belonged to the Jat community, a probe panel has found, The Indian Express reported today.
The probe panel led by Prakash Singh, a retired officer of the Indian Police Service, has prepared a list of such deserters, with their names, ranks, belt numbers, places of postings and the days for which they remained absent from their posts, the newspaper reported.
Spectators have accused Jat constables of being mute spectators while members of their community indulged in looting, burning, and destroying property belonging to other communities.
The high number of deserters forced the state government to call in the paramilitary force and the Army, The Indian Expressreported.
After the violence subsided, those who were missing in action resumed duties as if they were simply on leave.
The Haryana police plans to take action against those who abandoned their posts, disobeyed orders, and did nothing to prevent the violence The Indian Express reported.
“The guilty will not be spared”, a senior Haryana Police officer told The Indian Express.
“Even people in police are a reflection of society. There were people who showed immense bravery and there were a few who showed cowardice as well. Reports from various quarters were received about police personnel abandoning their posts and not performing their official duty, especially in Rohtak and Jhajjar," the police official said.
A senior government officer in Haryana told The Indian Express said that "unprecedented action" would be taken against "all such persons who failed to perform their duties."
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